UAE AI Minister Unveils Dubai’s 185-Year Vision to Become Global AI Hub at Inaugural Retreat

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Following the vision for the next 185 years, Dubai has laid down the strategic plan of turning into an international city for artificial intelligence at a rapid pace. This was stated by Mr. Omar Sultan AlOlama, UAE Minister for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and remote work applications in the worlds biggest Artificial Intelligence meeting, the AI Retreat 2021.

More than 2600 participants including government agencies and private sectors discussed on how to govern AI, train talents and develop structure for it. They also talked about the ways in which the AI applications can be deployed to address different challenges both at personal and planetary level.

“In Dubai, we set an example and we do not wait for change to happen, but rather, change happens,” AlOlama said this while highlighting the proactive role of UAE in the adoption and advancements in AI.

Key Initiatives and Achievements

Building and nurturing an organisational talent pool for artificial intelligence

Today, Dubai collaborates with 22 chief AI officers to oversee government departments and plans to educate one million AI engineers and specialists. This is one of the measures that the emirate has integrated into the drive of attracting the best technological firms, and minds in the area of Artificial Intelligence to help it set a better competitive platform in the market.

AlOlama also stressed on the role of talent in constructing the future of the UAE, in info-communication technology and particularly, AI talent where the UAE stands third globally in terms of AI talent per population density, behind only Luxembourg and Switzerland. On a regional basis, it has taken the first place from the 11th place it occupied in 2021, as stated by researchers, LinkedIn jointly with Stanford University.

AI Skills and Infrastructure

The UAE also had an upswing in the global ranking for skilled AI personnel rising from 20 to 15 inside one year. AlOlama emphasized that, contrary to popular belief, AI is already in existence and exists not only in the distant future, but now too, just as the city’s vision of its physical infrastructure has undergone development and constructively transformed for 185 years leading up to the present day.

Inaugural AI Retreat

AI Retreat 2019 was hosted in Dubai under the patronage of the Crown Prince of Dubai HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum The event brought together more than 1000 decision-makers, specialists, officials of the government and business, and representatives of leading technological companies. Voices of the stable included the basic AI problems including policies and regulations, legal frameworks, management/control, infrastructures, and data centers for AI systems. It also looked at essential aspects such as finance and research as enabling areas.

Photo: Arabian business